282 



OEGANOGEAPHT. 



_ We have already stated that when the styles of a syncarpous 

 pistil are distinct, they usually correspond to the number of car- 

 pels of which that pistil is composed. It sometimes happens, 

 however, that the style of each carpel bifurcates or becomes 

 forked, as in some Euphorbiacese, either once (Jigs. 613 and 628), 

 or twice {Jig. 627) ; so that the number of the styles above is 



Fig. 627. 



Fig. 628. 



Fig. 627. Female flower of one of the Euphorbiacew. c. Calyx, p, p. Petals. 

 t. Membranous expansion round the ovary, o. Ovary with three styles, 



s, each of which is twice forked. Fig. 628. Ovary of Castor OilPlant, 



(Bicinua communis). The styles in this case are once-forked. 



then double or quadruple that of the carpels. "When two or 

 more styles are united into one body, this is termed a comjpoimd 

 style. This adhesion may take place either entirely, as in the 

 Primrose {Jig. 587), when the style is improperly termed sitnple, 

 (undivided or entire would be a better term) ; or the union is 

 more or less incomplete as we proceed towards its apex, and cor- 

 responding terms are used accordingly. These terms are similar 

 to those previously mentioned in describing the degrees of division 

 of the other parts of the plant : thus the style is said to be cleft, 

 when the union between the component styles extends to at least 

 midway between their base and apex ; and the style is said to 

 be hijid, trifid, quadrijid, quinquejid, or multifid, according as it 

 is hvo, three, four, Jive, or many-cleft. If the union between the 

 component styles does not extend to midway between their 

 base and apex, the style is partite, and is described as bipar- 

 tite, tripartite, quadripartite, &c., according to the number of 

 partitions. 



Form and Surface. — In form the style is generally more or 

 less cylindrical ; and either tapering from the base to the apex, 

 as is more frequently the case, or becoming enlarged as it pro- 



